Protecting the most vulnerables is everyone’s responsibility
Protecting the most vulnerable is at the core of Mother Cabrini’s legacy: safeguarding them from harm is a collective responsibility.
Cabrini Ministries, in collaboration with the Department of Social Welfare (DSW), Sithobela Health Centre, and Civil Registration, recently supported a case that underscores the importance of timely intervention and holistic care for survivors of abuse.
The family services department at Cabrini Ministries
A thirty-nine-year-old woman, whose identity we protect for confidentiality, experienced a traumatic gang rape while going to a pit latrine at night. The perpetrators covered her face, making it impossible for her to identify them. Fearful of reporting the crime due to the reputation of her community and the location where the assault occurred, she initially felt helpless.
On December 3rd, 2024, she walked into Cabrini Family Services seeking help. By then, she was four months pregnant from the assault. As she shared her story with a Caseworker, tears flowed uncontrollably. She revealed that she had been raped once before at the age of 14 and was devastated to see history repeating itself. She did not want to carry the pregnancy and had no means to care for a child as this was her 3rd child.
Cabrini Ministries immediately offered ongoing psychosocial support, walking with her through the trauma and providing guidance on available options, including government alternative placement for children in similar situations. She was empowered with knowledge about the importance of reporting abuse and accessing timely support.
Financial constraints prevented her from seeking hospital care, and she delivered her baby at home in May 2025. Cabrini Ministries stepped in, taking her and the newborn to Sithobela Health Centre for immunization and to obtain a birth card, which enabled the registration of the child’s birth certificate. Cabrini also provided financial support to cover these essential steps and also provided her with sanitary towels, infant diapers and infant clothing which were sourced from the department of social welfare.
In August 2025, the Department of Social Welfare assisted with placing the infant boy in a respite care center while efforts are made to secure a foster family. Cabrini Ministries will continue to collaborate with the Department until the case is officially closed, that is, until the infant receives the necessary support and foster parents are secured. This story is a powerful reminder of the difference that coordinated support can make. Cabrini Ministries continues to transform lives by providing holistic care, linking survivors to essential services, and protecting the most vulnerable. Through such interventions, we help ensure that children, the future generation, grow up safe, healthy, and valued.